Magnet-operated switch



1950 w. H. TAYLOR MAGNET-OPERATED SWITCH Filed March 23, 1946 INVENTOR. WILL/AM H. TA YLOR ATTORNEY P'atented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT O'FFICE MAGNET-OPERATED SWITCH William H. Taylor, San Leandro, Calif.

Application March 23, 1946, Serial No. 656,565

7 1 Claim. 1 My invention relates to electric. switches. and more particularly to a magnet-operated switch.

Among the objects of my invention are: (1) To provide a novel and improved magnetoperated switch;

(2) To provide a novel and improved magnet.-

trolled switch;

Additional objects of myinvention will be brought out in the follow-ing description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention in the form of a float-controlled switch with the switch in one position of operation; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing the switch in its other position of operation when actuated by the magnet-operating means;

Figure 3 is a viewtaken in the plane 3-3 of Figure 2';

Figure is a view illustrating one application of my improved switch wherein, the switch is made responsive to changes in liquid level.

Analyzed as to its fundamental features, the invention involves a switch movable between two operating positions such asa circuit-closing position and a circuit-opening position, such switch having associated therewith an element of magnetic material; and in conjunction therewith, there is provided magnet means capable of being moved to and from a region of influence upon said element of magnetic material, whereby to cause said switch to assume one or the other of its two operating positions, depending upon whether or not such element of magnetic material is within the influence of the magnet.

The embodiment illustrated includes many novel features aside from those fundamental features pointed out above. For details, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings.

In its preferred and illustrated form, the invention includes a switch housing I formed of a 56 retain a magnet ll,

lower section 3 adapted to'be closed at the top by a cap or cover 5. The lower section is formed with a. circular rib I at the bottom thereof, within which circular rib, the floor of this section is provided with a relatively narrow rectangular opening 9.

Within the housing, a switch assembly I I is positioned for movement between two positions. of operation, namely a circuit-elosing position and a circuit-opening position. Such assembly includes an armature or element i3 of magnetic material of a size and shape adapted to be received within the rectangular opening 9 in the floor of the housing. and along the upper surface. of this armature there. is disposed a leaf spring 15 which is attached at one end of the armature by an upstanding stud H which is bolted to the armature at this point.

This stud carries at its upper end, a conventional type clip 19 for receiving a standard capsule-type mercury switch 2 l.

The leaf spring 15 at its free end overhangs the end of the armature for anchoring to the floor of the housing, thereby to normally hold the armature at an angle to the plane of the housing floor and causing the switch assembly to assume a tilted position representing one position of operation of the switch. In the case illustrated, this would be the circuit-closing position of the switch, but should it be desired that such position represent the open circuit position of the switch, such objective can be realized by merely reversing the capsule in its holding clip.

A binding post 2.3 to either side of the armature is, adapted tov receive the switch leads 25 and pro.- videv for connection to conduit leads 2!- brought into. the housing through a conduit-connecting boss 2.9 on the side wall of the housing.

Coupled to the underside of the housing as by a plurality of peripherally disposed bolts. Bl is a magnet chamber 33 of non-magnetic material. This chamber has a narrow chamber recess 35 in alignment with the rectangular opening 9 of the housing, such recess terminating at its upper end within a circular depression of a diameter sufficient to receive the circular rib l on the undersurface of the housing. Such depression is also adapted to receive a disk. or diaphragm 31 of non-magnetic material between a sealing gasket 39 and the rib 1, whereby to form a hermetically sealed in partition between the housing and the magnet chamber 33.

This magnet chamber is adapted to slidably preferably One of the permanent type such as a horseshoe type magnet, capable of exerting an attracting influence upon the armature when the magnet is caused to approach the diaphragm.

The depth of the-magnet chamber is made sufficient to permit the magnet to be withdrawn from the region of influence upon the armature.

In conjunction with such magnet, means is provided for shifting the same to and from the region of influence upon the armature 13, the specific means for controlling the movement of the magnet and the consequent operation of the switch, being dependent upon the application for which the switch is designed.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, such means takes the form of a float control 43. In such case, the magnet is ailixed to one end of a stem or rod 45 passing out of the magnet chamber through a passage 41 in the bottom thereof, such stem or rod connecting to a ball float 49 housed in a float chamber 5| which in turn supports the magnet chamber and switch housing by means of a supporting tube 53 threadedly engaging the stem opening of the float housing, and a threaded counterbore at the lower end of the stem passage in the magnet chamber.

The float chamber is provided with a pipe connection 55 adjacent its upper end and a second pipe connection 57 in the floor thereof.

When so designed, the switch is adapted to respond to changes in liquid level between the two pipe connections, for when the level in the float chamber is sufficiently low, the permanent magnet will be withdrawn from the region of influence upon the armature, while on the other hand, when the liquid level in the float chamber rises sufliciently, the permanent magnet will be lifted to within the region of influence upon the armature, and when this occurs, the armature will be drawn into pressure contact with the partition against the restoring action of the leaf spring, thereby throwing the switch to its other position of operation.

When employed for controlling liquid level, the two pipe connections to the float chamber will be connected to the tank 59 whose liquid level is to be controlled, the upper pipe connection being connected at a point slightly above the maximum desired level, while the lower connection is con nected to a point at or below the lowest permissible level of liquid in the tank. When such liquid level approaches the lowest permissible level, the switch will occupy a position wherein an electrical circuit will be closed, and such circuit may be utilized in energizing a pump (not shown) to flow sufiicient liquid into the tank to raise its level to the point where the magnet will attract the armature and throw the switch, thereby breaking the circuit through the motor and causing it to shut down.

With such a set-up, it will be apparent that the sensitivity of the switch may be controlled first by designing the apparatus whereby a small travel of the magnet will be suflicient to throw the switch from one position of operation to another position, but when such design has been fixed, additional adjustment may be effected through the use of shims of non-magnetic material placed on the diaphragm between the armature and the magnet, whereby to effectively increase the spacing between the armature and the magnet. In this manner, the switch may be rendered less sensitive to liquid level changes.

By designing the switch with one or more shims initially installed, the sensitivity of the switch may then be increased through the removal of one or more of such shims if such increase in sensitivity is to be desired in connection with some particular installation.

While I have disclosed my invention in its preferred form, the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the fundamental principles outlined above, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claim.

I claim:

A switch component for a magnet-operated switch comprising an armature of magnetic material, a leaf spring disposed along a surface of said armature and fastened at one end spaced from and adjacent an end of said armature, said leaf spring at its other end extending to the other end of said armature, a capsule-type switch and mounting clip, and means securing said clip and said armature to said leaf spring at said other end of said armature and said armatur upon being attracted having its first end separate from said leaf spring, causing a tilting movement of said capsule type switch and mounting clip to operate said switch.

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 700,812 Peyton May 27, 1902 1,061,919 Miller May 13, 1913 1,529,470 Dowd Mar. 10, 1925 1,834,934 Brach Dec. 8, 1931 1,876,044 Davis Sept. 6, 1932 1,905,771 Walker Apr. 25, 1933 1,995,895 Parks Mar. 26, 1935 2,116,415 Shenton May 3, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 364,591 Germany Feb. 18, 1921 

